Improvement in folding tables



V F. GES'SEB, Folding-Tables;

Patented Nov. 10,1874.

ms GRAPHIC co. rnwwumass u PARK FLACEniX.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK GESSER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN FOLDING TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 156,784, dated November 10, 1874; application filed August 11, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK GEssER, of New York, in the county and State of New York,

have invented an Improved Folding Table, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improve ments in folding tables by which the hinged leaves may be folded or caused to depend from the table proper, and the table thus be reduced in size, but capable of being used for ordinary requirements.

The invent-ion consists in providing the tabletop proper with a'hinged or pivoted leaf at each of its sides, in combination with sta' tionary legs provided, near their top and bottom, with fixed bars connecting said legs together, and movable legs provided with upper and lower pivoted bars, whereby either one or both of the leaves may be folded down or supported in a horizontal position; or, it both leaves be folded down, the table will be reduced in size, while it can be used for the ordinary requirements, as will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figurel is a central vertical section, showing the leaves raised and the legs extended to support the same. Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the leaves folded and the legs closed together. Fig. 3 is an under view of the table and legs.

A represents the top of the table, and B B the leaves. The table and leaves may be round, square, or oblong. To the under side of the top A is attached a bar, (J, at the ends of which are attached the upper ends of two legs, D D, which are connected near their lower ends by a bar, E, lying in a direction parallel with the bar 0, thus forming a pair of stationary legs. The bars 0 and E are arranged diagonally or obliquely to the edges of the top A and the joints of the leaves therewith, instead of lying parallel with said edges and joints, so that at each end of said bar G there is more space on one side than the other between the edge of the bar and the edge of the top A. The bar 0 is formed with a slot, 0, running longitudinally for nearly its entire length, and in a plane parallel with the top A. In this slot 0, at the center of the table is pivoted the inner ends of two bars, G G, the outer ends of which are attached to the upper ends of two legs, H H. Near the lower ends of the legs H H are attached bars J J, the inner ends of which are pivoted to the bar E at a point immediately under the center of the table.

When the leaves B are fold ed down or hanging vertically the legs H H are swung around toward the legs D D, so that the bars G G partly enter the slot 0, one on each side, and the bars J J lie closely against the bar E, as shown in Fig. 2, and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. When the leaves are raised to the same plane as the top A the legs H H are swung outward to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to support said leaves in said raised position.

I am aware that it is not, broadly, new to provide stationary legs and pivoted movable legs beneath the table for supporting hinged leaves in a horizontal position, and such, broadly, I disclaim, as such construction of folding tables possesses many disadvantages, the most prominent of which is the fact that, as heretofore constructed, the leaves are hinged together, and when folded down the table cannot stand alone, nor can it be used for a table of a reduced size, and, moreover, both leaves must be raised and lowered at the same time.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The central table-top A, provided at each side with a hinged leaf, B, and on its under side with the diagonal bar 0, in combination with the stationary legs D, rigid bar E, and the movable legs H, with the upper and lower pivoted bars G and J, all substantially as herein shown and described.

FRANK GESSER.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN W. HOFFMAN, FRED. HAYNES. 

